Hepatitis contagiosa canis (H.c.c.)--2 cases in Austria

Two cases of H.c.c. which occurred in winter 1987 in Vienna are described. Case one was a female Chow-Chow, 8 weeks of age, that died from the peracute form of the disease. The diagnosis was confirmed by histology and direct immunofluorescence. Case two, a 9-month old female Kuvacz, showed clinical signs of the subacute form of H.c.c. She was hospitalized and therapy was successful. The disease was diagnosed by the typical clinical signs and the raise of antibodies in paired serum samples. Etiology, clinical signs and immunology of H.c.c. are discussed.     

Spontaneous regression of bovine cutaneous leukosis

Biopsies of skin from a 2-year-old heifer with spontaneously regressing dermal leukosis were examined. The heifer was not infected with bovine leukemia virus and was negative for tumor-associated antigens of enzootic bovine lymphosarcoma. By hematological standards for bovine leukemia, the heifer was positive at about 60 days post-occurrence of the disease (POD). At 53 days POD, lymphoblastic neoplastic cells in the dermis reacted with anti-T lymphocyte monoclonal antibody by the avidin biotin peroxidase complex method. The cells had intracytoplasmic clustered dense bodies under electron microscopy. From 53 to 83 days POD, figures of the transepithelial elimination (TE) against neoplastic cells and perivascular infiltration of small lymphocytes were in the dermis. Small lymphocytes reacted with anti-T lymphocyte monoclonal antibody. At necropsy there were no neoplastic lesions; there were flat lymph node-like tissues in the subcutis. Many germinal centers were seen in the lymphatic organs. Blood lymphocytes at 46 days POD were stimulated by phytohemagglutinin-P and concanavalin A. Sera, taken until 75 days POD and at necropsy, showed an inhibitory effect on mitogen-induced blastogenesis of normal bovine lymphocytes. These results suggested the existence of a spontaneous regressive mechanism against neoplastic lesions by TE and tumor immunity.     

Differentiation of hog cholera and bovine virus diarrhoea viruses in pigs using monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies against hog cholera and bovine viral diarrhoea viruses were assayed on organ tissue sections of experimentally infected animals. The animals had been infected simultaneously with both viruses. The antibodies were tested using an indirect immunofluorescence test and an indirect enzyme immunoassay with a biotin/streptavidin/peroxidase detection system. A polyclonal hyperimmune serum was used as a control in direct immunofluorescence tests. Both techniques based on monoclonal antibodies were more sensitive and more specific than the conventional test, the enzyme immunoassay being more sensitive than the immunofluorescence test. Small amounts of BVD viral antigen were demonstrable with monoclonal antibodies in most organ tissues.     

Cytological, Immunocytochemical and Ultrastructural Study of the Adenohypophyseal Pars Distalis of the Kid (Capra hircus): The TSH cell

The structure and ultrastructure of the adenohypophyseal pars distalis in kids of the Murciano-granadiana breed (18 males and 12 females), aged 2-3 months and with an average carcass weight of 8 kg has been studied. Techniques of staining (Tetrachrome Herlant's, and Cleveland-Wolfe) and histochemistry (PAS, PAS-OG and BA-PAS-OG) contrasted with immunolabelling (PAP) have been used. In addition an ultrastructural study has been made and nucleus and cytoplasm, secretory granules, mitochondria and lysosomes have been measured with a semiautomatic image analyzer (IBAS-1). TSH cells are found in sagittal section in the anterior area and in an antero-caudodorsal band, and transversally in the ventral and medial region; they are 6% and their average size is 14.15 microns. Ultrastructurally they are a single cellular type with spherical granules whose size is 195 nm in males and 149 in females; these granules are characterized by a clear halo and a variable electronic density. The rough endoplasmic reticulum is found as slightly enlarged vesicles with a homogeneous and moderately electro-dense content or in concentric stratifications.     

P‐33 Poxvirus infection in two cats

A 3‐year‐old Burmese cat was presented with a history of nonresolving crusted and papular lesions of the face and prior treatment with prednisolone. Skin biopsies revealed typical pox lesions with hyperplasia and ulceration of the epidermis and eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in the epidermal cells. In the upper dermis there was prominent diffuse mast cell infiltration and mild neutrophilic and eosinophilic inflammation. Rare cytoplasmic inclusion bodies were also present in swollen endothelial cells of dermal venules, which showed no other degenerative changes. Histological diagnosis was confirmed by electron microscopic evidence of pox virus particles in inclusion bodies of epidermal cells. The lesions resolved within 6 weeks with systemic antibiotic therapy and supportive care. A 2‐year‐old domestic short‐haired cat was presented with multiple disseminated papular and ulcerative pox lesions with central eschar over the entire body. Histologically, large epidermal inclusion bodies (up to 6 μm in diameter) were present. Widespread haemorrhage and vascular wall necrosis was visible in the dermis and subcutis. Some subcutaneous vessels showed neutrophilic vasculitis. In addition to diffuse dermal neutrophilic and eosinophilic inflammation, a lymphohistiocytic panniculitis was also present. The cat died as a result of massive haemorrhage and lymphedema, despite supportive care. Funding: Self‐funded.     

Re-defining tillage erosion: quantifying intensity–direction relationships for complex terrain

Abstract. Current tillage erosion models account for the influence of tillage direction in the magnitude of the soil (tillage) transport coefficient. It is argued here that this is counter-intuitive and causes significant problems in modelling tillage erosion in areas of complex terrain. This article examines whether a re-modelling of tillage erosion is possible that separates tillage direction (an interaction with the landform) from the soil transport coefficient (a measure of tillage intensity representing the combination of implement erosivity and soil erodibility). Experimental data for mouldboard ploughing upslope, downslope and cross-slope at Coombe Barton Farm, Devon are examined. Integration of data for all directions into a single relationship, which relates translocation in the direction of tillage to slope in the direction of tillage and translocation perpendicular to tillage to slope perpendicular to tillage, is not possible using previously published methods of analysis. However, when total translocation distance is regressed against the tangent of the slope at 45° to the tillage direction (bisecting the tillage direction and the direction of overturning) it is found that a single relationship can be used to describe tillage in all three directions. Therefore, this relationship is used to determine a single value of the soil transport coefficient ( k _fTa) for constant soil and implement conditions but different tillage directions. This redefinition of tillage is important both for true estimation of tillage erosion severity, the adirectional coefficient being 40% larger than the directional coefficient, and for modelling of tillage erosion in complex terrain. These improvements are vital when tillage erosion simulation is used to direct soil conservation strategies.     

Response of the lactating and postweaning sow to gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)

Clinical and endocrinological responses to administration of gonadotropin releasing hormone analog (LH-RH-A) during the lactation period and postweaning in the sow were investigated. Plasma LH concentrations in lactating sows rose immediately after administration of LH-RH-A. However, in postweaning sows the increase of LH level was more slowly. Three of 5 postweaning sows came into estrus and ovulated after LH-RH-A treatment. One sow exhibited a distinct LH response, but her ovaries remained quiescent. The remaining one with feeble estrus for a short period became cystic ovaries. Thus, LH response to GnRH in the sow seems to be higher during early lactation than at 2 days postweaning.     

Additional diagnostic procedures

This article reviews recent diagnostic procedures that have arisen over the last 10 years. Videoendoscopy of horses on a high-speed treadmill allows observation of some of the changes that take place in a horse's airway during exercise. Measurements of upper airway airflows and transupper airway pressure, the use of an esophageal balloon and a Ventigraph to measure changes in pleural pressure, and pulmonary function testing are new techniques that aid the researcher in understanding the mechanics and pathologic characteristics of airway diseases and help the practitioner in assessing the severity of a problem, measuring response to therapy, and accurately determining a prognosis.     

Participation of H1-receptors in histamine-induced contraction and relaxation of horse coronary artery in vitro.

The mechanisms of histamine-induced contraction and relaxation were investigated in rings isolated from a middle part of the left descending coronary arteries of horses. Intact and endothelium-denuded preparations were compared. Rings of horse coronary arteries contracted in response to histamine in a concentration dependent manner, but some of them relaxed with lower concentrations and contracted with higher concentrations. Removal of the endothelium abolished the relaxation and potentiated the contraction. The pD2 values were 4.70 +/- 0.08 in the rings with intact endothelium and 4.95 +/- 0.08 in endothelium-denuded rings. Histamine-induced contractions in intact and denuded preparations were not affected by an H2-antagonist, cimetidine, but were inhibited by an H1-antagonist, diphenhydramine in non-competitive manner in the rings with endothelium and in competitive manner in denuded rings. After precontraction with PGF2 alpha or norepinephrine, histamine relaxed preparations with intact endothelium (pD2 value, 7.80 +/- 0.11), although histamine-induced relaxations were not observed in denuded preparations. The relaxation was competitively inhibited by diphenhydramine. Relaxing response was significantly attenuated by methylene blue, quinacrine, L-nitro-arginine, gossypol and AA861 but not by indomethacin. These results suggest that the histamine-induced contraction and relaxation in horse coronary arteries are mediated mainly by H1-receptors in the smooth muscle and endothelium, respectively, and H1-receptor activation of endothelial cells may liberate vasodilator substances.